Guwahati: The Meghalaya government has revised the rules for elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), allowing citizens aged 18 and above to vote and shortening the time available for candidates to submit nominations from three weeks to just seven days.
These changes are expected to alter the council’s election process considerably.
The updates modify the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Councils) Rules, 1951, reducing the voting age from 21 to 18 and bringing the council’s election procedures closer to those followed in nationwide polls.
The shorter nomination window is a significant adjustment, giving candidates less time to enter the race while making the filing process more efficient.
The process for supporting nominations has also been simplified, now requiring only one proposer instead of two. Additionally, the practice of listing candidates alphabetically on ballots has been removed.
The new order prioritizes recognized national and state parties first, then registered political parties, with independents listed last, following Election Commission guidance.
The Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, which operates under the Sixth Schedule, gives tribal communities in Meghalaya a measure of local authority.
Updating the council’s electoral procedures to align with broader Indian election practices has been an administrative goal for many years.